Dr. Saraki, who bestrode the nation’s political sphere, particularly that of Kwara State, for nearly four decades, passed on in Lagos yesterday after a brief illness. He was 79.

In his condolence message, Governor Fashola expressed sadness over the sudden passage of the elder statesman whom he described as one of the most vibrant, colourful politicians Nigeria has ever produced. He said the nation has lost a compassionate politician.

Tracing the political history of the man who is widely referred to as the Father of Kwara Politics, Governor Fashola noted that from the time he emerged in the nation’s political space in 1977 as a member of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1979 Constitution, Senator Saraki had consistently impacted on the politics of the country with such effectiveness, which made him a household name across the country.

He said: “The consistency of his political views, which he expressed eloquently, was, perhaps, responsible for the leadership positions he held in the Senate into which he was elected in 1979 on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), the All Peoples’ Party (APP) of which he was the National Leader in 1998 and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where his influence saw to the election of his son, Bukola, as Kwara State Governor in 2003.”

According to Governor Fashola, “Nigeria has lost a political giant whose advice is needed, particularly at this period when our budding democracy is cutting its teeth and taking its challenging steps towards consolidation.”

He prayed for the repose of the soul of the elder statesman and said Almighty Allah should grant the government and people of Kwara State, particularly the Saraki family, the fortitude to bear the loss.